GUTÂI PASS

Gutâi Pass (also known as Gutin Pass, Paltinu Pass, or Pintea Pass) is a mountain pass located between the Igniș Mountains and the Gutâi Mountains, connecting the Baia Mare Depression with the Maramureș region. It has been used for centuries as a transit route between Maramureș and the rest of the region, but modernization, improvement, and paving works were only carried out after the 1970s.
The Gutâi Pass is situated at an altitude of 987 meters and lies between the Frăsinel Ridge and Paltinu Ridge to the west, and the Gutâi Plateau to the east. For about 20 kilometers, between Baia Sprie and the village of Mara, national road DN18 winds through spectacular curves and deciduous forests, in a particularly beautiful natural setting. Because of this, the road is especially popular among cyclists and motorcyclists alike.
It is also worth mentioning that Gutâi Pass is a well-regarded tourist area. Attractions in the area include the rock formation "Vlaicu’s Church," Pintea’s Cenotaph, Pintea’s Spring, and the region also serves as a starting point for mountain trails or as access to the Mogoșa and Șuior resorts.